International Lord’s Day Congress
By W. Mayhew Healey
Fourteenth Session Held in Oakland, California — What the Congress Stands for Is Significant, Even Though Its Meeting Was Small “THE Fourteenth International Lord’s Day Congress” convened in Oakland, California, July 27 to August 1, 1915. Dr. Duncan J. McMillan called the congress to order at 8:00 P. M., July 27. H. W. Johnson, governor of California; C. C. Moore, president of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition; and John L. Davie, mayor of Oakland, were advertised on the program to give addresses of welcome. None of these men were present. Governor Johnson was represented by F. J. O’Brien, President Moore by Frank L. Brown, and Mayor Davie by Mr. Higgins. These gentlemen made addresses of from three to fifteen minutes in length, and then excused themselves from further attendance at the congress. D. J. McMillan introduced Judge Alton B. Parker as permanent chairman. Judge Parker delivered an address on “The Sabbath and Civil Liberty.” He seemed desirous of having liberty, and at the same time having a law that would take it away. Duncan J. McMillan was elected permanent secretary of the congress. IN STATUTES AND ON HEARTS
Bishop E. H. Hughes, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, gave a brief address of welcome in behalf of the churches on the Pacific coast. In giving the reasons and need of this congress, he said, “We have need of your presence that we may have written in our statute books and on our hearts the words, ‘Remember the Sabbath day.’” The words of Bishop Hughes have a meaning and significance that the speaker evidently did not see, nor intend to convey. They show a dependence on the power and influence of man, instead of the Spirit and power of God, to write this human sabbath on human statutes and human hearts. FIFTY COOPERATING ASSOCIATIONS
The handbook of the congress claims about fifty cooperating associations and societies in different parts of the world, with about one third of them in the United States. It names as vice chairman all “the governors of the states and territories of the United States”; and as “patron and honorary chairman his excellency the Hon. Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States”; and as “patron and honorary vice chairman, his royal highness the duke of Connaught, governor-general of Canada.” About one hundred and fifty were advertised as delegates to deliver addresses or read papers before the congress. Among these are many eminent and noted divines and educators from every country of Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia, and the islands of the sea. ONLY SMALL AUDITORIUM REQUIRED
Any one not acquainted with the methods employed would naturally look for a large attendance, judging from the claim and advertising of the congress. But evidently this was not expected by the committee of arrangements, as the audience room secured in the Oakland Municipal Auditorium, for the meetings of the congress, is only seated for 465 persons; but this was more than ample, for only once during the session were the seats half filled. Many of the parties announced to be present were “conspicuous by their absence.” Some of them sent papers. The idea of bringing about a more general and sacred observance of Sunday ran through every speech and paper, but there was a wide diversity of opinion as to what to do and how to do it in order to bring this about. Some of the papers contained the spirit and words of liberty. It is evident that some of these men and women are groping in the dark, and feeling after God and His truth. May their eyes be opened to see the way of righteousness that leads along the path of “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” And when contemplating the making of laws to compel others to observe Sunday, or accept any other of their religious views, may they consider how they would like to have others force some unacceptable religious or pro-religious institution or practice upon them. Some of the papers were filled with a spirit and clothed in language so bitter and unjust as to remind one of the councils of the Dark Ages. The citizens of Oakland and vicinity ignored the congress by their nonattendance. Even the ministers of the city gave it scarcely any attention. Evidently they had little or no sympathy with the purpose of the congress to aid in obtaining a Sunday law in California. MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN MIGHT APPEAR
While the congress was so slimly attended as to cause the casual observer to regard it as almost a farce, it nevertheless has a place, a purpose, a power, in fulfilling the word of God. A man busy with his toil, casting his eyes over the ocean, might see what appears to be a few pieces of wood tossing upon the waves, and he turns thoughtlessly from the scene to his labor. But the watchman in the tower sends forth a piercing cry of alarm. He has seen, in those apparently harmless pieces of wood, the masts of an enemy’s fleet stealthily approaching to destroy his liberty and his home and loved ones. Likewise the reader of history and student of God’s word may see, by the prophetic telescope, the approaching danger to religious liberty, by the tops of the masts of this “congress” in its demands for religious legislation. Of the teaching and influence of the congress, we hope to say more from time to time in the future.